Diary
Writing and the Splendor of Solitude
At every book reading and presentation, I have been asked questions about how I go about my writing: whether my process is compulsive/disciplined or impulsive/inspired, where I write and how frequently. My answer is that I am impulsively compulsive. I write when I have something to write and am disciplined only about preserving the turning…
Read MoreCross Dressing Warriors in the Civil War
One of the characters our Emmy Evers meets in Book Three of the Widow Walk Saga, The Fairness of Beasts, is a young woman who disguises herself as a Union soldier in order to be close to her lover. Cross dressing was not uncommon. Although both the Union and Confederacy forbade women to enlist and women distinguished…
Read MoreThe Butterfly Victim
Last evening I had the opportunity to see (again) and hear Madame Butterfly, the Puccini 1904 grand opera set in 19th century Nagasaki, Japan. This version was produced by the excellent local company Lyric Opera Northwest whose mission is to provide classical operatic venues in which local talented young singers can perform with seasoned international…
Read MoreDying in America
In October, I participated in the 2014 Scientific Assembly of the American College of Emergency Medicine in Chicago, an annual gathering of physicians, businesses and educators that I have been attending since 1974. It is always interesting and since my first meeting, which I filmed as a physician-filmmaker, I have been fascinated by the continual…
Read MoreHunting on the Continental Divide
Looking out from the Continental Divide at Sunset Diary Entry December 22nd, 2014: I am at 7800 feet from the Continental Divide in New Mexico, competing with a large mountain lion and a pack of coyotes for the elusive North American Great Elk. I know the competitors are there because I have glassed a wounded cow…
Read MoreInevitable Questions at Book-Signings…Changing Careers
Common Questions at Book Signings…Career Change: Physician/Educator to Historical Fiction Author With the publication of Isthmus today, Christmas 2014, I am now scheduled to tour the book and present it at a number of gatherings. Likely, as I have in the past with Widow Walk, I will discuss the creation of the cover art as a…
Read MoreWorking the Next Sculpture
These two pieces will be bronze with a black patina – wall mounts as a backdrop for an outdoor courtyard fountain. The smaller of the two pieces is 4′ x 6′, the larger piece is 13′ x 6′. I decided to do this in bronze because it will weather better than granite or basalt…
Read MoreSpirit and Communication
We are in Charboneau les Bains au Lyon, in the Rhone Valley, the “gastronomic capital” of France, exploring the ancient city, its countryside and sampling the differences between Parisian and Lyonese cuisine. It is a welcome rest from the hassle-hustle of the business life from which I soon retire and the quietude of this rural…
Read MoreAngels and Lecterns
We returned to New Orleans this past week to meet with over 800 medical directors of our nation-wide Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Hospitalist, Orthopedics and OB/GYN services. During the three day event, we listened to several speakers, including former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, discuss healthcare financing, leadership, management and clinical topics, frame the future and provide…
Read MoreDefense Attorneys and “Diary of a Moonlighter”
I just returned from New Orleans where I had the opportunity to present two topics to 160 of the attorneys whose 140 firms represent TEAMHealth in various venues throughout the country. We are fortunate that in our management of over 12 million annual patient care encounters in our Emergency Departments, Hospital In-Patient care, Anesthesiology and…
Read More